May 2009

"The Negro cannot win if he chooses to sacrifice the future of his children for immediate comfort and safety...." This quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Ironically, and tragically, much of the decimation of the African-American community, by means of betrayal and deceit, is self imposed. This deliberate and systematic discrimination would not flourish if it were not for willing pawns, duplicitous individuals more concerned about personal political gain than the future of the lives they serve. Their culpability is disgraceful and deplorable. The greed for gain by these individuals works to sustain the status quo of destruction; works to 'sacrifice the future of our children for immediate comfort and safety."

Several journalists and bloggers have joined Amnesty International and other human rights groups to call attention to the impending execution of Troy Anthony Davis who sits on Death Row in Georgia. Davis has been this close to execution three times before but was spared thanks to expert lawyering. This time Davis may be out of luck as his last extension expired last Saturday.

In spite of the fact that seven of nine witnesses in the twenty year-old case recanted and cited undue influence by law enforcement; Davis is still set to be executed. How the U.S. Supreme Court and the American justice system in general can allow this to happen is nothing short of frightening.

New York Daily News columnist Errol Louis pens an excellent article citing the facts of the case; shoddy and incomplete police investigation and the egregious decision by several Supreme Court Justices to deny Davis a hearing to present new evidence because his papers were filed late.

Where is the justice in such a decision that may result in the murder of an innocent man? Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue should do the right thing and pardon Troy Davis. It is just. It is humane. It is the right thing to do.

Now that businessman and NBA great Dave Bing has been sworn in as mayor of Detroit, Michigan, perhaps the city can get back on track. Faced with daunting financial challenges, Bing brings wisdom and stability to a city desperately in need.

Bing will complete the mayoral term started by disgraced mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and temporarily filled by Council head Ken Cockrel defeated by Bing for the permanent position.